Monthly Archives: October 2019

The Malthusian Illusion

Posted on October 31, 2019 by the archivist

Thomas Malthus still exerts great influence. Malthus was a demographer before he was ever considered an economist. He first came to prominence for his 1798 publication, An Essay on the Principle of Population. In it, he raised the question of … Continue reading →

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Boris and Nigel

Posted on October 30, 2019 by the archivist

So we’re going to have an election after all. I didn’t think we’d get one. I wonder what changed Jeremy Corbyn’s mind? Perhaps it was that John Bercow wasn’t sitting in the Speaker’s chair in Parliament yesterday. I’ve been watching … Continue reading →

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The Empire of the European Union

Posted on October 29, 2019 by the archivist

It’s going to be hard to avoid discussing Brexit and the EU for the next few days, until on 31 October Brexit doesn’t happen, and we remain in the EU until 31 January, after which time the can will be … Continue reading →

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Stop The Scaremongering

Posted on October 28, 2019 by the archivist

Leaving Brexit aside. Huffington Post: Sir David Attenborough has lauded teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg, praising her “passion” and “insight”. The veteran broadcaster is currently gearing up to unveil his new show Seven Worlds, One Planet, which explores the differences in … Continue reading →

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Uncharted Waters

Posted on October 27, 2019 by the archivist

Rush Limbaugh a couple of days ago on the House impeachment inquiry: Now, as I have emphasized a lot, what’s going on in the country right now with this particular story is not so much a partisan divide, left versus … Continue reading →

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Clean Sweep Coming

Posted on October 26, 2019 by the archivist

I suppose I ought to say something about Brexit, but I have nothing to say, except that I don’t think Britain will be leaving the EU on 31 October. Here’s Raedwald‘s view: This rogue parliament has placed itself in opposition … Continue reading →

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Don’t Mention The Ban

Posted on October 25, 2019 by the archivist

A few days ago I got an email invitation from the Academy of Ideas. It said: The Battle of Ideas is a weekend of lively debate and discussion on today’s most pressing political, cultural and artistic issues. The weekend will … Continue reading →

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Why Can’t I Build Cancer Models?

Posted on October 24, 2019 by the archivist

Regular readers will know that for the past 18 months I’ve been constructing simulation models of heat flow in snow and ice on the surface of the Earth. For I had the idea 18 months ago that if a deep … Continue reading →

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If Nobody Complains

Posted on October 23, 2019 by the archivist

It always puzzles me that smokers are so invisible. Why is that? Why are some social outcast groups highly visible, but not smokers? The answer perhaps is that smokers don’t complain. They just adapt to the new circumstances they find … Continue reading →

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Give Them An Inch

Posted on October 22, 2019 by the archivist

The UK smoking ban of 1 July 2007 was arguably preceded by several other social revolutions over previous decades. One of these was the switch in Britain from imperial units to metric units, known as metrication. I can still remember … Continue reading →

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